Humidifier



9 w.w.cuMM|Nes,JR 2,170,551

HUMIDIFIER Filed March 5, 1938 Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES HUMIDIFIER William Warren Cummings, Jr., Windermere, Fla.

Application March 5, 1938, Serial No. 194,101

7 Claims.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple, compact, and efficient air conditioning or humidifying apparatus which can be readily installed in any desired location, which is of inconspicuous and pleasing appearance, and which, being automatic in its operation, and having once been installed and adjusted will effectively perform its intended function in a reliable manner with minimum attention.

My humidifier is characterized by the use of the drip principle of dripping water onto a hot head or heating element, within a superheated air chamber, where the water is instantly vaporized on contact with the hot head or heating element, instead or by flowing water onto a pan heated at a low temperature with slow evaporation, or of spraying water into the air. This drip principle has the advantage of eliminating odors of evaporating water or water drainage or water storage. The high temperature of the head likewise prevents condensation of water from the air around the unit and prevents corrosion. The high temperature of the head also quickly replaces the heat lost through normal evaporation of water (about 1055 B. t. u. per pound of water evaporated), and insures a natural circulation of air through my device without mechanical aids such as a fan, insures rapid absorption of water into the air stream, and also insures a circulation of moist air into the room. The temperature of the head or heating unit can be regulated and controlled to insure spontaneous vaporization of the water, and the water flow from the instrument can be likewise adjusted automatically. There is thus no limit to the capacity of my unit.

The more particular objects of the invention, together with means whereby the latter may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of an illustrative (and at present preferred) embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing, this, however, having been chosen for purposes of exemplification merely, it being obvious that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise embodied without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a central vertical section of the complete device or apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the head.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram.

The apparatus comprises a hollow supporting base I having air inlet openings I I and from which rises a hollow upright or standard l2 cornmunicating with the interior of the base and supporting at its upper end a hollow head I3 enclosing a chamber M which communicates at its lower end with the interior of the standard [2 and at its top with the atmosphere through discharge openings !5. The head I 3 is preferably provided with a heavy lining 16 of insulating material in order to prevent the relatively high temperatures, maintained as hereinafter explained within the chamber 14, from being communicated to the exterior of the head, the air discharge openings l passing through said lining.

Within the head [3 at the bottom of the chamber I4 is a hot head or electrical heating unit 51 of any suitable or well known type, having a head 18 of heat conducting material which is heated thereby. Electric current is supplied to the heater 11, through circuits hereinafter more fully described, by feed wires l9 which pass downwardly through the standard l2 and out through an opening in the base i D to a source of electric cu:- rent. It is to be understood that the electrical heating unit I! may be replaced with a gasheated or other heated element without departing from my invention.

Within the chamber l4, above the head 18 of the heating unit, is a drip head or nozzle 20 adapted to discharge water, preferably in drops, upon the heater head 18, said drip head being supplied with water through a pipe 2| which passes downwardly through the standard l2 to the base I!) where it is connected with a water supply, either by direct connection to a fixed supply pipe 22, as shown, or by means of a flexible hose or tube which may pass outwardly through the base in a manner similar to the wires l9 and be connected with a water supply pipe at any convenient place. The flow of water through the pipe 2| is controlled by a solenoid operated valve 23 of any suitable type in which energization of the solenoid acts to open the otherwise normally closed valve. Since such solenoid operated valves are well known, description thereof in detail is deemed unnecessary.

The electric circuit to the heater I! and valve 23 is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5. Said circuit includes two branches 24 and 25 both of which are controlled by a thermally operated, high limit switch 26 located in the chamber 14. Said switch 26 may be of any familiar type, biased to normally close the circuit but adapted to open the same when the temperature in the chamber l4 exceeds a predetermined limit, preferably about 500 F. The branch 24 includes the solenoid operated valve 23 and also includes a thermally operated low limit switch 21, likewise located in the chamber l4 and biased to normally hold the branch 24 of the circuit open but adapted to close the same when the temperature in the chamber 14 rises to a predetermined minimum, preferably about 230 F. The branch 25 includes the heater l1 and also includes a switch 28 controlled by a humidostat 29, preferably located in the standard l2, and adapted to close the circuit to the heater when the relative humidity of the air within said standard falls below a predetermined amount and to open said circuit when the humidity exceeds a predetermined amount. Humidostats for thus controlling circuit closers are well known, and any suitable type, not requiring description in detail, can be employed. Said humidostat is preferably located opposite a transparent panel 30 in the standard 12,

which panel may be opened in order to aiiord access to the humidostat for the purpose of setting or adjusting the same.

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 5, with the switch 26 closed and the switches 27 and 28 open, the valve 23 is closed, and no current is supplied to the heater l'l. Due to the free communication afiorded through the inlet and discharge openings H and I5, the relative humidity of the air in the hollow standard IE will be substantially the same as that of the surrounding atmosphere. When this falls to a point determined by the setting of the humidostat 29, the latter will operate to cause the switch 28 to close the circuit to the heater I l, which thereupon begins to heat the air in the chamber I 3. Such heating of the air in said chamber tends to set up a thermo-siphonic circulation of air through the apparatus, air being drawn in through the inlet openings ll, rising in the standard [2 to the chamber l4, and passing out through the discharge openings l5. When the temperature in the chamber M has risen to a point where water discharged upon the head l8 will be immediately vaporized and maintained in a vaporized condition, the switch 2'! closes the circuit to the solenoid operated valve 23, thereby opening said valve. Thereupon water from the head 23 will be dripped upon the head 58 of the heater and be instantly vaporized in the superheated atmosphere of the chamber M, the highly heated vaporized air passing out through the openings E5 to the atmosphere. When the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere has risen to the desired point, the thus humidified air drawn in through the openings l l and passing upwardly in the standard l9 will cause the humidostat 29 to operate the switch 28 to open the circuit to the heater ii, and the resulting fall in temperature Will cause the switch 27 to open the circuit to the valve 23, thereby permitting the latter to close. If, at any time during the operation of the device, the temperature in the chamber M should rise to a predetermined limit, the switch 26 will open the circuit to both the heater l! and valve 23, thereby discontinuing the heating action and closing the valve until the temperature has fallen to a safe level.

It is obvious, of course, that the shape and form of my device may be changed without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow base having an air inlet, a hollow standard communicating with said'base, a hollow head providing a chamber communicating with said standard and having an air outlet, means for discharging water into said chamber, and means for vaporizing said water and heating said chamber.

2. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow base having an air inlet, a hollow standard communicating with said base, a hollow head providing a chamber communicating With'said standard and having an air outlet, a heating element in said chamber, and means for discharging water upon said element.

3. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow base having an air inlet, a hollow standard communicating with said base, a hollow head providing a chamber communicating with said standard and having an air outlet, an electric heating element in said chamber, a humidostat in said standard for controlling the current to said heating element, and means for discharging water upon said element.

4. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow base having an air inlet, a hollow standard communicating with said base, a hollow head 7 providing a chamber communicating with said standard and having an air outlet, a heating element in said chamber, means for discharging water upon said element, an electrically controlled valve for controlling the discharge of said water, and a thermally controlled switch in said chamber for controlling the current to said valve.

5. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a chamber, means whereby air may be admitted to and discharged from said chamber, an electric heating element in said chamber, a water supply pipe terminating in means for discharging water on said heating element, an electrically operated valve in said pipe, an electric circuit comprising a branch including said heating element and a branch including said valve, a switch in said first named branch, a humidostat for controlling said switch and located to be influenced by air entering said chamber, and a thermally controlled switch in said last named branch and located in said chamber.

6. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a chamber, means whereby air may be admitted to and discharged from said chamber, an electric heating element in said chamber, a water supply pipe terminating in means for discharging water on said heating element, an electrically operated valve in said pipe, an electric circuit comprising a branch including said heating element and a branch including said valve, a switch in said first named branch, a humidostat for controlling said switch and located to be influenced by air entering said chamber, a thermally controlled switch controlling both of said branches and located in said chamber, and a thermally controlled switch in said last named branch and likewise located in said chamber.

'7. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a hollow base having an air inlet, a hollow standard communicating with said base, a hollow head providing a chamber communicating with said standard and having an air outlet, an electric heating element in said chamber, a water supply pipe terminating in means for discharging water on said heating element, an electrically operated valve in said pipe, an electric circuit comprising a branch including said heating element and a branch including said valve, a switch in said first named branch, a humidostat for controlling said switch and located in said standard, and a thermally controlled switch in said last named branch and located in said chamber.

WILLIAM WARREN CUMMINGS, JR. 

